Craftsmen Specialty Coffee (Thomson): rolls out some new Burgers and Pasta dishes


Inspite of its name, Craftsmen Specialty Coffee isn't all coffee snob talk, aeropress and V60 with exotic roasts procured from round the world. In fact, the classic coffee menu is preceded by a selection of sizable dishes; both brunch worthy and now, fit for fulfilling those dinner woes.

I've always been a big fan of the 'Far-east' find; my older brother's trip to the joint affirming it's strong stance on exceptional sourdough centric brunch dishes. So when I heard that the establishment had taken to expanding across the island at cozy little corner just off Goldhill Plaza in Novena; I was beyond ecstatic.

Step through glass panelled doors and all of a sudden you're transported to a suitably dim-lit space with the occasional bottle shelving serving as privacy curtains from table to table. clever. The sinuous music washes over you and you sprawl back on your chair. All ready to receive the torrents of gustatory pleasures that are about to take place.

With a menu well versed in brunch staples, croissants, waffles and the occasional healthy options of sourdough and granola sprouting out; the visuals of a salacious burger sporting a cowlick of melted cheese is a welcome sight. The Mr Craftsmen Burger marries Sirloin minced beef patty, mesclun salad, grilled and fried onions smothered with a feisty blanket of Siracha sauce between two freshly made brioche buns. A commendable effort given the heftiness of the buns being resilient enough to transport the rebellious stack of ingredients from plate to mouth.  The Craftsmen Cheese Burger is the works - the sourness of the pickled relish lending crunch while the beautifully cooked sirloin minced beef patty renders a bursts of juices. The cloud-like buns are slightly sweet and a perfect canvas to the assault of meat juices mixed in with a balanced creamy sharpness from the melted pepper jack cheese.


Also unique to the Thomson outlet are the new pasta dishes. The Beef Stew Spaghetti with house made chunky beef stew and braised carrots weaved thru strands of pasta is a winsome dish. Portions are generous and the meal is perfect for those seeking out a little comfort. While the White Wine Prawn Spaghetti looks unassuming but carries tons of satisfaction in its wake. The decent medley of fresh prawns, sporting a golden caramelised sear on its exterior; served alongside pasta frolicking in white wine sauce and sprinkled fastidiously with chopped fresh parsley, cherry tomatoes, chilli flakes and Parmesan cheese. Both proving to be worthy contenders to Craftsmen's firm menu.


 Food at Craftsmen Specialty Coffee is always earnest, fashionably austere and handsomely arranged in generous portions across a plate. The new Kimchi Flatbread fits in the line-up like a gem; presenting a hodgepodge of flavors and textures that may initially appear quite uncohesive; but it works and the separate entities do have a blast in each others company. Toasted flatbread (a tad chewy in our opinion) meets kimchi, grilled bacon, pork bratwurst, sunny side up eggs, pea sprouts and a tumble of pomegranate seeds for a burst of color. Choose this with more enthusiasm than discernment and you'll be rewarded with a plethora of sensory treats.


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Craftsmen Specialty Coffee
173 Thomson Road
S(307623)
t: 9658 0769

Operating Hours:
Sun - Thurs: 8am - 9pm
Fri - Sat: 8am - 10 30pm

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